title: Characterization and expression of the complementary DNA encoding rat histidine decarboxylase.
abstract: Histamine is a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and an important modulator of gastric acid secretion, vasomotor control, inflammation, and allergic reactions. In biological systems the formation of histamine from its precursor histidine is catalyzed by the enzyme L-histidine decarboxylase (HDC; L-histidine carboxy-lyase, EC 4.1.1.22). We have cloned HDC-encoding cDNA from a fetal rat liver cDNA library (phage lambda gt11) have deduced the amino acid sequence from the nucleotide sequence. The clone was proven to be HDC cDNA by expression of active recombinant enzyme in COS cells and by chromosomal mapping. The cDNA encodes a protein of Mr 73,450 (655 amino acid residues). The discrepancy between this molecular weight and the size of the purified fetal liver protein subunits [Taguchi, Y., Watanabe, T., Kubota, H., Hayashi, H. & Wada, H. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 5214-5221] (Mr = 54,000) suggests that HDC may be posttranslationally processed. The 469 amino acid residues from the amino-terminal portion of the protein share 50% identity with rat and Drosophila L-dopa decarboxylases and much less homology with other characterized amino acid decarboxylases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kozak
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fenstermacher
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Behrendsen
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Zahnow
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases / Q000235:genetics*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D015870:Gene Expression; D015723:Gene Library; D005796:Genes; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics*; D006822:Hybrid Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051381:Rats; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004247:DNA; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase